Patriots owner Robert Kraft opens up about Deflategate, Roger Goodell and President Donald Trump

HOUSTON – Robert Kraft is all about winning and loyalty and friendships. And, of course, making lots of money, but aren't we all?

He was so determined to support his friend Roger Goodell as he searched for compromises to close the labor deal with the players in the summer of 2011 that he left the bedside of the ailing love of his life. He was the crucial voice of reason putting an end to the lockout that threatened the season.

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Six years earlier, Kraft was seated one table away from Bill and Hillary Clinton at Donald Trump's wedding at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Kraft is a lifelong Democrat and was later one of the largest donors to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, but Trump is his friend.

Now Kraft's relationship with Goodell is fractured. His friendship with Trump has never been stronger. Goodell is the most powerful man in sports. Trump is the most powerful man in the world. Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, is one of the most powerful men in the NFL.

That's a lot of power for just three people.

In an interview with the Daily News, the most successful owner in the NFL, and future Hall of Famer, explained how Deflategate impacted his once-close partnership with Goodell and how, in the bluest of blue states, the President of the United States won his heart in his darkest time.

A once close Kraft and Goodell have grown far apart since the Deflategate scandal. (AJ Mast/AP)

"We've developed a very close relationship," Kraft said of his quarterback. "We truly are like family."

Goodell has avoided Gillette Stadium the last two years with no indication he will ever come back or receive another invite to a party at Kraft's home in Brookline.

How is his relationship with Goodell these days? Don't ask.

"I don't know if it will ever be the same, but in order to do what is best for the Patriots franchise long term, I believe it is best to compartmentalize and move on," he said. "Like our quarterback, I am trying to remain positive and look to the future rather than dwell on the past. As a native New Englander, that's easier said than done, but I am doing my best to put the matter behind me."

The run the Patriots are on may never happen again in the NFL. The reason: Strength at the top.

Kraft, coach/GM Bill Belichick and Brady are the three constants over the last 16 years. They are now in their seventh Super Bowl together – Kraft, who bought the team in 1994, was also in the Super Bowl with Bill Parcells as his coach in 1996 – with a chance to win their fifth on Sunday in Super Bowl LI against the Falcons, who have never won a Super Bowl.

Deflategate: How the Patriots scandal played out on the back page

Kraft's formula has worked: He has trusted Belichick. Belichick has trusted Brady. He has created the model franchise. "We're doing this in the age of the salary cap, so I'm pretty proud of that," Kraft said.

One other thing: Kraft couldn't live with Parcells, who made him feel like an outsider. Belichick, who spent one year on Parcells' staff in New England in 1996 before returning as head coach in 2000, was smart enough to learn from Parcells' mistakes. He is inclusive and has kept Kraft in the loop on all football matters.

The grumpy image Belichick portrays publicly is not the Belichick who deals with Kraft behind the scenes.

"I've tried to create a culture and value system that is right for us." Kraft said. "When you keep something going on this long, for me it's important to minimize division from within. Bill and I have been able to establish a very good private relationship."

Patriots fans desperately want to see Goodell squirm handing the Lombardi Trophy to Kraft on the podium after the game and then be even more uncomfortable handing the Super Bowl MVP Trophy to Brady the next morning. "I'm not going to speak to that," Kraft said. "I hope we do win, then we can talk about it."

Kraft has a personal reason why Donald Trump is a close friend. (Winslow Townson/AP)

Including the playoffs, Brady has 33 TDs and just four INTs this season after sitting out the first four games. Since the deflated football allegations came out after the 2014 AFC title game, Brady has 76 TDs and 15 INTs. Brady won't admit it, but being dragged through the mud has impacted his game. "He's a very positive person, and did it give him a little extra motivation? Sure," Kraft said, "The whole thing, yeah, I think it was extra motivation."

But what about being buddies with Trump?

Kraft and Trump have been friends for a long time, before Trump even thought about one day being the leader of the free world. Trump was often shown on television sitting with Kraft in the owner's suite in Foxborough. So, how does Kraft reconcile his own politics — in addition to living in his home state, which is staunchly Democrat — and his friendship with Trump?

In fact, if the Cowboys are indeed America's Team, then the Patriots are now Trump's Team, even without the approval of Pats fans. The former owner of the New Jersey Generals has all but taken out billboards in New England bragging about how close he is to the Patriots' Big Three.

Kraft's loyalty to Trump goes back to when his wife Myra died from cancer in 2011, shortly after the labor deal was done.

"When Myra died, Melania and Donald came up to the funeral in our synagogue, then they came for memorial week to visit with me," Kraft said. "Then he called me once a week for the whole year, the most depressing year of my life when I was down and out. He called me every week to see how I was doing, invited me to things, tried to lift my spirits. He was one of five or six people that were like that. I remember that."

That's why Kraft was at a pre-inauguration dinner with Trump. Seated nearby was Jets owner Woody Johnson, expected to be the ambassador to the United Kingdom. "To be honest, I think we have a real challenge, especially in the inner cities," Kraft said. "Working class people and lower income people, we have to help more. They've gotten hurt over the last decade a lot. We have to create jobs and a vibrant economy that helps those communities throughout America. I really believe and hope that the new administration is going to do that."

No word yet if Trump will be at the Super Bowl. If he is and the Patriots win, maybe he can hand the trophy to Kraft and Brady.